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On the calendar today …
- GRA SACRAMENTO: AEG and GRA present: Subsidence around the world from 5:30pm to 8:30pm in Sacramento. Join GRA and AEG for our annual holiday gathering. Jim Borchers of the USGS will present “Subsidence Around the World, a Summary of Presentations at the Fourth Annual AEG Land Subsidence Symposium, and a Few Thoughts on Critical Head.” This presentation, introduced AEG’s 2024 Land Subsidence Symposium, summarizing land subsidence as reported in the news media world-wide during 2023-2024. It displays photos and videos of recent land subsidence features globally– from catastrophic sink hole formation in Ireland and Illinois to coastal inundation in Asia, and major deltas and urban areas of the world, to Siberian craters and slumps in thawing permafrost, to building damage in England from shrinkage of clay soil during drought. Nearly 25 percent of the world’s population lives in areas subsiding or likely to subside. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Giant SoCal water district approves continued Delta tunnel funding, asks “Where’s Kern County?”
“California’s largest water contractor agreed Tuesday to spend another $141 million on the latest version of a long proposed tunnel that would bring water under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farms and cities in the southern part of the state. But the directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California had lots of questions and caveats along with their approval to fund the planning and preconstruction phases of the so-called Delta Conveyance Project. The project is expected to cost $20 billion at full build out, according to estimates released by the Department of Water Resources earlier this year. A recurring question the Met board had Tuesday was whether the Kern County Water Agency, the state’s second largest water contractor, was on board to pay its share of costs, $3.3 million, for this phase of the project. Questions to the agency about its participation level weren’t answered in time for this article. But several local districts were discussing the project this week, according to their meeting agendas. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project
“The board of California’s largest urban water supplier voted on Tuesday to spend $141.6 million for a large share of preliminary planning work for the state’s proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. With the decision, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will continue covering nearly half of the preconstruction costs for the proposed 45-mile tunnel beneath the delta, which Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state needs to protect the water supply in the face of climate change and earthquake risks. “This is about planning for the next 100 years,” said Adán Ortega, Jr., chair of the MWD board. The MWD’s 38-member board decided to approve the funding after heated debate. Supporters, who included business advocates and local water officials, said the project will ensure the reliability of supplies to protect Southern California’s economy. Opponents, including environmental advocates and Delta residents, argued the project is a costly boondoggle that would harm the environment and push threatened fish species to the brink while failing to deliver the promised water-supply benefits. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Metropolitan board approves $142 million in additional funding for remaining planning of Delta Conveyance Project; Restore the Delta and State Water Contractors respond
“Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors voted today to provide additional funding for planning costs for a project that could modernize statewide infrastructure that delivers water to 27 million Californians. Metropolitan’s 38-member board approved $142 million to fund its share of environmental planning and pre-construction costs for the Delta Conveyance Project in 2026 and 2027. The project is an initiative to increase the long-term reliability of the State Water Project and make it more resilient to climate extremes, sea level rise and earthquakes. The State Water Project delivers water from the northern Sierra to communities across California, providing about 30% of the water used in Southern California. “After careful consideration, our board took this step because it allows us to gather critical information about the project’s benefits and costs that will allow us to evaluate whether we will participate in the full construction of the project,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. … ” Read more from Metropolitan Water District; includes statement by Restore the Delta and the State Water Contractors.
SEE ALSO:
- Major Southern California water supplier approves spending $141.6 million on Delta tunnel project, from CBS News
- LA says yes/Speaking of Newsom’s pet water projects, from Politico
Gov. Gavin Newsom urges completion of California’s largest new reservoir project in 50 years
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for building Sites Reservoir, a proposed $4.5 billion project that would be the largest new reservoir constructed in California in 50 years, as a way for cities and farms to better prepare for droughts made worse by the warming climate. “We are going to continue to do everything we can to put the pressure on to get this project done,” Newsom said. “We are going to continue to advocate for federal resources,” he added. “Donald Trump, this is your kind of project.” Sites would be California’s eighth largest reservoir, a 13-mile-long off-stream lake that would divert flows from the Sacramento River during wet winters to provide water to 500,000 acres of Central Valley farmlands, and 24 million people, including residents of Santa Clara County, parts of the East Bay and Los Angeles. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News. | Read via MSN News.
Tribal and environmental groups slam Sites Reservoir project as Governor promotes it
“Governor Gavin Newsom continued his “California Jobs First” tour today with a press event at a farm in Colusa in the Sacramento Valley where he promoted his Administration’s efforts to build Sites Reservoir, a water project strongly opposed by a broad coalition of Tribes, environmental justice groups and fishing organizations. … The Governor’s stop today was just miles away from where construction of the controversial Sites Reservoir is planned. The Governor’s Office claimed that Sites Reservoir “is critical to California’s Water Supply Strategy and meeting California’s goal of expanding above and below ground water storage capacity by 4 million acre feet. “ Late last year, the Governor certified the project for so-called “streamlining, saving the project from years of litigation delays.” … In response to Newsom’s praise for Sites, opponents of the reservoir note that Sacramento River water is “already over-allocated by five times its availability and that the reservoir will add to climate change emissions.” They say the Tribal, water supply quality, and environmental impacts would be “devastating” as Central Valley salmon and Delta fish populations move closer and closer to extinction. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
SEE ALSO:
- More water, more jobs: Governor Newsom visits historic farm in Colusa to highlight efforts to build water infrastructure, faster and create jobs, from the Office of the Governor
- Gov. Newsom talks Sites Reservoir future on tour of California counties that voted for Trump, from CBS News
- Gov. Gavin Newsom touts controversial water projects as defense against climate change, from the Sacramento Bee
New storm train for Pacific coast may include at least one ‘bomb cyclone’
“Storms are gathering like boxcars on a freight train over the Pacific Ocean for an onslaught that will bring rounds of low-elevation rain, mountain snow and gusty winds that can lead to travel problems, at the very least, from Washington to Northern California. AccuWeather meteorologists say at least one of these storms may evolve into a bomb cyclone. “Storms are lining up to arrive in the Northwest every two to three days and may continue to roll in until Dec. 22, or just before Christmas,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. One or more storms could organize a long plume of moisture that acts as an atmospheric firehose. This setup is often referred to by meteorologists as an atmospheric river. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: Rain, snow return to Northern California ahead of powerful weekend storm, from the San Francisco Chronicle
What is the snow forecast this winter for the US?
“Winter weather has arrived in the United States with teeth-chattering chill and even some snow descending across the Central and Eastern states while the West has been dry and mild. However, this is just the start of the long season, leaving many to wonder if the first week of December was a preview of what’s to come. Meteorological winter started on Dec. 1, but astronomical winter kicks off on the solstice, which takes place this year at 4:20 a.m. EST on Dec. 21. The weather pattern across the country will flip around the middle of December, opening the door for milder air to thaw areas of the central and eastern U.S. that had early-season snow. Meanwhile, rain and mountain snow will return to the West as storms from the Pacific roll through the region. “We are favoring heavier rain and snow in the Pacific Northwest and occasionally Northern California,” AccuWeather Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Emergency repairs underway at Victoria Island levee in San Joaquin County
“Emergency construction is underway after severe seepage was discovered at the Victoria Island levee, just southwest of Stockton. California Department of Water Resources (DWR) officials said the damage was discovered on Oct. 21, where a leak was seen coming up from under the levee and onto the land. A local emergency was declared by the county, and Reclamation District 2040 engineers provided temporary protective barriers. But with the failure risk ongoing, crews estimate repairs could continue for the next four to six weeks, depending on weather conditions. “Seepage is a known issue in the Delta, which is why monitoring and regular maintenance is crucial for maintaining our flood system,” DWR spokesperson Jason Ince said. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record.
California’s new water reality
“Driving down the I-5 corridor from Redding to Bakersfield in the summer, you might feel like you’re crossing a dry desert rather than a Mediterranean paradise. Now, imagine this landscape as a thriving, water-rich region with networks of rivers, streams, floodplains, and wetlands. This isn’t fantasy, but a glimpse of California’s past, and a future we can recreate for native habitat, towns, and farmland. This necessary transformation is supported by state leaders for a new vision of water management in California. The key lies in reconnecting California rivers with their lost natural water infrastructure like floodplains, marshes, and groundwater aquifers. “As things change, we can’t just build more dams…we already have plenty of those. With increasing hydroclimate variability, the kinds of interventions we need are things like floodplain restoration and groundwater banking,” says Dr. Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. … ” Read more from River Partners.
Northern California fishing businesses call on President Biden to designate Sáttítla National Monument
“Local fishing businesses joined together to announce their support for the creation of a new national monument in northern California to permanently protect the water, habitat, and sporting values of the Sáttítla region. Sáttítla, also known as the Medicine Lake highlands, is an area of public lands with truly unique geologic, hydrologic, and habitat values. Much of this area’s productivity for fish and wildlife stems from the fact that the Sáttítla landscape is an enormous, largely pristine hydrological recharge and storage resource, which may absorb as much water as California’s 200 largest reservoirs combined and which discharges over 1.2 million acre-feet of snowmelt annually. Andrew Harris, owner of Confluence Outfitters based out of Red Bluff, California, said, “The world-famous trout fishery of the Fall River depends on the waters absorbed and filtered by the Sáttítla landscape. This river is California’s largest spring creek and its abundant waters feed the Pit River, Lake Shasta, and the Sacramento River. Our guide service depends on these waters – each a unique fishery — to provide great local fly-fishing experiences for over a thousand anglers every year. The cold, pure water that originates in the Medicine Lake Highlands is essential to our business. We support permanently protecting this extraordinary area of public lands as a national monument.” … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Tag, you’re it! Reclamation supports cooperative effort to track Central Valley steelhead
“The fish along this stretch of the Stanislaus River practically jump on the line, and that’s a good thing for the people that have gathered here on a recent fall morning. The species in question, Oncorhynchus mykiss, the rainbow trout, are well-known to angling enthusiasts – a feisty fish that punches above its weight when caught. Rainbow trout are one of nature’s oddities. In one life history iteration, they remain in the cold, fresh water of Central Valley rivers such as the Stanislaus. Some fish, however, choose the anadromous life. These fish, referred to as steelhead, make the arduous journey to the Pacific Ocean before returning home to spawn. The Central Valley steelhead, a distinct population segment listed as threatened by the Endangered Species Act, is why Reclamation and its partner agencies are investigating the details of how the fish live and survive. On the chilly and surging Stanislaus, the process unfolded – fish were pulled from the river with the aid of an expert fly fisherman, tagged and then released back to the water, none the worse for the experience. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
In commentary today …
Farmers should brace for new state water rules, fees
Alexandra Biering, director of policy advocacy for the California Farm Bureau, writes, “California farmers and ranchers who divert water and violate orders or reporting requirements from the California State Water Resources Control Board may feel sticker shock when new increased penalties take effect Jan. 1. The state water board’s powers to issue fines for water rights violations were first established in the 1980s and have remained mostly unchanged. In 1980, the California Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown approved a law that gave the state water board the authority to issue cease-and-desist orders when the board has evidence that a diverter has violated an order. Such an incident occurred in August 2022 with a group of diverters along the Shasta River. After several consecutive drought years, the diverters were placed under an emergency curtailment order to protect salmon. U.S. Geological Survey stream-flow gauges that year showed that the Shasta River water level dropped by more than half in less than a day, and the individuals were found by the state to be in violation of the order. … ” Continue reading from Ag Alert.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Dam removal revitalizes salmon in win for native tribes
“If you read One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest years ago, you may recall how Chief Bromden’s psychosis originated with the loss of his people’s fishing habitat due to the construction of a monstrous dam. Ken Kesey brought the loss of annual fish runs of the Columbia River, estimated at 15 to 20 million salmon, to our attention. They had supported an essential human industry long pre-dating the arrival of Columbus in the Western Hemisphere. Pacific tribes ever since have fought for dam removal projects across the US. It’s not just native people who argue for dam removal. The US Fish and Wildlife Service explains that dams slow the natural flow of water and warm it, promoting the spread of deadly algae and parasites. Dams, they say, have been harming salmon and sturgeon since their installation, and people are frustrated to see these culturally and economically important species hurt when it is within our ability to protect them. … ” Read more from Clean Technica.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada Irrigation District closes foothill boat launches to address threat of invasive golden mussels
“The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is taking immediate proactive action to keep out highly destructive invasive golden mussels from the District’s waterways. To address the immediate threat, the District will close all boat launches to motorized watercraft at Scotts Flat and Rollins reservoirs until more information and direction from State officials is known. The freshwater bivalve can block water intakes and infrastructure, harm native species, increase water clarity due to intense filter feeding and diminish water quality. “NID will immediately implement a temporary boat launch closure due to the recent discovery of the golden mussel in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The golden mussel is probably one of the most invasive species we could get and would not only destroy our powerhouses but could also overtake the canal systems,” said Greg Jones, NID’s assistant general manager. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
BAY AREA
Weak atmospheric river to bring several rounds of rain to Bay Area this week
“After a dry period in the Bay Area, a weak atmospheric river is forecast to hit the region by the weekend, triggering several rounds of rainfall. The first round of rain is expected to be light and will likely arrive late Wednesday into Thursday, mostly in the North Bay, Joe Merchant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, told SFGATE. The second round of rain will likely hit the Bay Area on Friday and into Saturday, potentially causing minor street and river flooding, especially in the North Bay. On Saturday going into Sunday, a third round of precipitation is expected to move through the area, producing the most prominent showers. The highest rainfall totals are expected to occur at higher elevations and coastal mountain ranges in the North Bay. Those areas could see between 3 to 5 inches of rain, Merchant said. In the valley areas of the North Bay and in the Santa Cruz Mountains, around 1 to 2 inches of rain is predicted. The rest of the Bay Area should expect to receive half an inch to an inch of rain through the weekend, he said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Mill Valley marsh restoration effort gets $670,000 grant
“A proposal to restore marshlands and bolster sea-level rise protections at the edge of the Richardson Bay in Mill Valley scored a $670,000 grant to boost project planning and design. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded the grant to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy last week to fund environmental review and regulatory permit applications for the proposed project at the 106-acre Bothin Marsh Preserve. “The marsh itself is currently drowning through this muted tidal effect,” said Rob LaPorte, a project manager at the conservancy. “It takes longer for the tides to drain from the marsh than a normal functioning marsh.” “So we’re losing vegetation and we’re losing whole sections of the marsh to wave erosion,” he said. “We’re making sure we get a project implemented as fast as possible in order to restore the marsh and all of the rare wildlife and plants it supports.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Settlement payment by Martinez Refining Company to fund environmental projects
“The Martinez Refining Company has agreed to pay $4.48 million to settle allegations of federal Clean Water Act violations tied to its Contra Costa County refinery, and the money will go to environmental projects, according to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Owned by PBF Energy Inc., the refinery produces a variety of petroleum products. Between 2022 and 2023, the company allegedly discharged millions of gallons of wastewater from its oil refinery operations, causing harm to water quality and aquatic life in the large undeveloped marshes connected to the Carquinez Strait. The penalty was calculated by the State Water Resources Control Board and issued in October. … ” Read more from Danville-San Ramon.
Garamendi secures wins for Bay Area and Delta in Water Resources Development Act
“Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) voted to pass the “Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024” (S.4367) in the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 399 to 18. “The Water Resources Development Act passed today continues our bipartisan tradition of meeting the water infrastructure needs of communities across California and the country. As a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I secured several provisions in this bill directing federal investment for Mare Island, restoring Bay Area wetlands, and improving our precious water supply for local communities in California’s 8th Congressional District. This pivotal legislation will strengthen community resilience from the threats of climate change, improve California’s water resource projects that safeguard human health, and enrich America’s vital natural aquatic ecosystems for generations to come,” said Garamendi. … ” Read more from Congressman Garamendi.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tied Fresno County irrigation district board race goes into double overtime
“With a single ballot outstanding, a recount of votes cast in a heated race for a Laguna Irrigation District board seat was abruptly stopped Tuesday afternoon, initially leaving the race in a tie of 101 to 101. By law, voters in the district had 24 hours to request the recount be restarted. And that’s exactly what happened. Now the recount is back on, confirmed Fresno County Registrar of Voters James Kus. The office needs to provide at least 24 hours notice of the restarted recount, which is conducted in public view. Kus wasn’t sure if it would happen Thursday or Friday but “We’ll get it done this week,” he said. Well driller Wes Harmon, who ran against Laguna board president Frank Zonneveld, had sought the initial recount. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
‘It’s horrible.’ Fresno’s record-breaking settlement highlights region’s larger drinking water problem
“The San Joaquin Valley has reached a dead end in its fight to clean up a toxic contaminant from its drinking water, with residents now facing the prospect of footing the bill for a mess created by Shell and Dow products. Fresnoland reviewed internal Shell and Dow memos, court records, and state documents and interviewed key officials to uncover a decades-long environmental crisis enabled by both corporate greed and bureaucratic neglect. The documents show how the companies’ products contaminated nearly 20% of San Joaquin Valley drinking water with a substance the EPA rates as toxic as Agent Orange’s deadliest dioxin. The companies sold pesticides laced with 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), a manufacturing waste from gunpowder and plastics production. Shell marketed the farming products as pure – a scheme that saved them millions in disposal costs. Over 25 years since discovering the contamination, state water officials have failed to even map how far and deep the cancer-causing chemical had spread into the Valley’s aquifers. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
California Water Service: Begins infrastructure upgrades to improve quality, supply reliability with PFAS treatment in Visalia
“California Water Service (Cal Water) has begun construction to install treatment on two Visalia wells to meet the state’s new water quality standard for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Construction is scheduled to be completed in February and March 2025, respectively, well in advance of the five-year deadline that utilities were given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in April 2024 to comply with the new National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for these PFAS. … ” Read more from Market Screener.
California Water Service: Begins water infrastructure upgrade to improve water supply reliability and fire protection in Bakersfield
“California Water Service (Cal Water) started a water infrastructure upgrade this week that will improve water supply reliability and fire protection in downtown Bakersfield. Crews are installing 1,935 feet of new water main to replace aging pipes. “Infrastructure improvements like this help Cal Water maintain a reliable water supply for both customers’ everyday needs and firefighters’ emergency needs, while also preventing water loss from aging pipes,” said Tammy Johnson, Director of Field Operations. … ” Read more from Market Screener.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Winds whip Southland, fuel Malibu fire: Where SoCal Edison has shut off power
“An extreme wind event has prompted Southern California Edison to shut off power to tens of thousands of customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the Inland Empire. Officials at the National Weather Service issued a rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning to last through 2 p.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. A regular red flag warning is expected to last through Wednesday afternoon. Areas within the Particularly Dangerous Situation include large swaths of Ventura County, such as Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Oxnard, Fillmore and Ojai. In L.A. County, affected areas include Malibu, Canoga Park, Santa Clarita and Acton. With gusts up to 65 mph, the dangerous winds and dry conditions on Tuesday helped drive the Franklin fire in Malibu to more than 2,700 acres. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Congresswoman Norma Torres secures $59 million for the Inland Empire in the bicameral and bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024
“Today, Rep. Norma Torres, Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced she secured $59 million in funding for vital water infrastructure and flood risk management projects in the Inland Empire as part of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. The funding includes $35 million for the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and $24 million for flood risk management in San Bernardino County. The bill will now go to President Biden to be signed into law. “Securing $59 million for the Inland Empire is a major win for our communities and a testament to what we can achieve through bipartisan collaboration. These funds will directly address critical water infrastructure needs and enhance flood protection for residents across Pomona, San Bernardino, and surrounding areas,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “The $35 million for the Three Valleys Municipal Water District will ensure that local families have access to safe, reliable drinking water, while the $24 million for flood risk management will help safeguard homes and businesses from the devastating impacts of seasonal storms. I’m delighted that this legislation also approves local university Cal Poly Pomona for additional water related federal research. I’m proud to have fought for these resources, and I look forward to seeing these projects come to life to protect and strengthen our district’s water infrastructure.” (Source)
SAN DIEGO
Fierce Santa Ana winds topple big rig trucks in Southern California and push the region toward drought
“San Diego County edged closer to drought Tuesday, whipped by fierce and damaging Santa Ana winds that further dried out a region that hasn’t gotten a long, deep soaking of rain since March.The wind storm — which toppled big rigs on Interstate 8, fanned wildfires and canceled school in 10 rural districts — might be followed by weak Santa Anas on Sunday and again next Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. There might be some brief drizzle Thursday. But forecast models suggest the region will otherwise be mostly dry until Christmas Eve, and perhaps all the way to New Year’s Eve. The jet stream is likely to prevent big storms up north from dipping into Southern California. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
‘Forever’ chemicals discovered in South San Diego County water
“The Sweetwater Authority, which supplies drinking water to more than 200,000 households in southern San Diego County, alerted city officials in its service area on Friday that it had discovered toxic industrial chemicals in its main reservoir at levels that exceed state and federal standards. The PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever” chemicals because of their longevity in the environment, were discovered during newly mandated testing in late October. The chemicals, known by the technical names PFHxS and PFOA, have been shown to interfere with thyroid function and cause cancer in laboratory animals. Sweetwater General Manager Carlos Quintero said in an interview on Monday that water from the reservoir, which supplies households in Bonita and parts of Chula Vista, “is safe to drink based on current limits.” However, he acknowledged that one of the chemicals, PFOA, was found at nearly twice the limit recently established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. That limit is set to take effect in 2029, giving water agencies time to install additional treatment facilities if needed. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Audio: Nevada and other users of the Colorado River met in Las Vegas last week. Here’s what to know
“Almost 25 years into a drought, and with growth happening in nearly every part of the county, water is a major concern in Southern Nevada. Lake Mead is Las Vegas’ main water source, and 60% of the lake’s waters go to the farmland of California, whose year-long growing seasons help feed the nation. So naturally, people get concerned when they hear about states unable to agree on how to divide it between the seven states that share the Colorado River. That disagreement came to a head last week at the annual meeting of those states in Las Vegas, the meeting of the Colorado River Water Users Association.” Listen at KNPR.
Will Trump pay to save the Colorado River? Locals are worried
“The Colorado River is shrinking as climate change worsens the Southwestern drought, so the Biden administration has been paying farmers and cities not to use water. It’s spending nearly $5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure the nation’s biggest reservoirs don’t go dry. But President-elect Trump’s campaign has threatened to cut that funding. And as KUNC’s Alex Hager reports, people who share the river’s water are worried. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Colorado River Indian Tribes signs ‘Letter of Intent’ for study of reservoir
“The Colorado River Indian Tribes have announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with the Bureau of Reclamation in which BOR would fund a $5 million study of a re-regulating reservoir on the CRIT reservation. The letter was signed Dec. 4 in Las Vegas by CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores. In a press release, the Tribes said refurbishing and upgrading this reservoir could save as much as 35,000 gallons of water annually. In addition, they could put 5,000 more acres of farmland into production and make better use of their Colorado River water allocation. CRIT is Arizona’s largest and most senior Colorado River water rights holder, with an allocation of over 700,000 acre feet per year for its lands in Arizona and California. These are first priority water rights, meaning they will be the last to face cutbacks. … ” Read more from the Parker Pioneer.
In national water news today …
EPA bans widely used chemicals linked to cancer before Trump takes office
“The US Environmental Protection Agency has banned perc and TCE, toxic chemicals that are widely used in everyday products but strongly linked to cancer and other serious health problems. The move comes after the first Donald Trump administration killed the process to limit the chemicals’ uses, but the bans make it difficult for the second Trump administration to undo the rules. The chemicals are commonly used in dry cleaning, carpet cleaning, hoof polishes, brake cleaners, adhesives, pepper spray and lubricants. “After decades of workers and communities across the country sounding the alarm about the devastating health effects they’ve experienced, we are glad to see that EPA has finally banned these dangerous chemicals,” said Liz Hitchcock, director of federal policy for the Toxic-Free Future advocacy group. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Microsoft reveals new zero-water data center cooling design
“Microsoft is aiming to reduce its reliance on natural resources by eliminating the need for water to cool its power- and resource-hungry AI data centers in a major leap forward for sustainability. The company plans to employ chip-level cooling technology on a much tighter scale, enabling it to use a closed-loop system to recycle water and therefore stop wasting the resource. Microsoft has already reported a 39% improvement in its Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) since 2021, and by 80% since its first-generation data centers in the early 2000 – and it hopes transitioning to a closed-loop system where the water is reused could see it improve this figure even more. … ” Read more from Tech Radar.
Supreme Court may sharply limit the scope of environmental impact statements
“The Supreme Court may be about to sharply limit the reach of so-called environmental impact statements, which gauge potential harm of proposed developments and often cause projects to be blocked or scaled back. For more than 50 years, federal law has required agencies to take a hard and broad look at the “reasonably foreseeable environmental effects” of a building or development project before approving it. The justices sounded ready on Tuesday to reconsider that approach in a case involving a proposed 88-mile railroad line in Utah that would allow crude oil to be shipped to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Washington attorney Paul Clement said in court that these impact assessments should focus narrowly on the project itself, not on its wider effects. He urged the justices to reject potential secondary effects that are “remote in time and place.” In their comments and questions, most of the justices appeared to agree. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Supreme Court seeks middle ground on NEPA limits, from E&E News
The Year in Water, 2024: Risky Business
“What happened? Shell-shocked residents of Valencia wondered when rain inundated eastern Spain in October. The turbulent floods, a deadly deluge, killed at least 224 people and laid waste to bridges and roads, buildings and fields. Regulators in the United Kingdom asked when Thames Water, the country’s largest water and sewer utility, nearly collapsed financially under a debt pile of its own making. Politicos mused when U.S. voters re-elected Donald Trump, who disdains international alliances and promises to undo environmental protections in favor of oil and gas companies. Uttered in anguish, introspection, or bewilderment, the question took the form of a global language as people tried to make sense of a chaotic world. Events that are obscure in the moment often gain clarity in retrospect. The story of 2024 for water, though it is still being written, is one of increasing societal risk that our institutions and our infrastructure are not prepared to withstand. We were not built for this. … ” Continue reading from Circle of Blue.
